Carrier for dispatch systems



Get. 20, 1931. F. w. MacMAR'rlN CARRIER FOR DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed Feb.24. 1930 Cil Patented Oct. 20, V1931 l y uNrrrznfsr.6.relis PATENTOFFICE FRANK vv. MACMARTIN, or 'SYRACUSE NEWiyoRxjAssIGnoR 'ro` THELAMsoN CoM- 4VPANE?, or" SXRAGUSE', NEW Yong, A ooRPoRA'rIoN orMASSACHUSETTS i Giannina Fon nisrA'rcH SYSTEMS Application filedFebruary 24, 1930. Serial No. 430,496.

This invention relates to carriers for handling documental paperssuch-as are used in insurance companies and banks, as well as tocarriers in general suchy asareused for other papers, files, money,machine parts, etc..which are to be transported through'conveyor systemsfrom one station to another. `then used in conveyor systemsof thetypedisclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 422,- 313, filedJanuary 2l, 1,930, .these carriers may pass while en route totheirdestination,

throughV a relay station or stations at .which they are sorted byoperators and placed 1n the properconveyorV or dispatch, tube.1It is i Y,ing opposite ends respectively of the caradvantageous yto be vable todispatch such carriers fromone stationtoanother without opening acarrier to ascertain its destination, but this requires that means beprovided for indicating to relay operatorsthe destination or theparticular route to betaken by `a carof a shieldmember;

rier.V Furthermore,.as the carriers may take diii-erent routes ondierentoccasions and hence come to different,relayerv subfstations, it isdesirable that each carrier be provided with means for indicating anyone of a large number (preferably the total number) fof stations anddestinations Acomprised* inthe system. i F,- 1, k g

Objects ofthe present inventionare to provide carriers of this generalclasswithmeans for indicating any one of a plurality'v of redispatchstations, and also for indicatingany one of a plurality of finaldestinations; to provide carriers with indicatingv f means which may beobserved readily by an operator; to provide an endless indicia `carryingband capable of useywith carriers vof noncircular cross section; toprovide indicating means which when applied to a carrier lof flattenedor oval shape will be Visiblelfrom either side of the carrier; and alsoto provide indicating means-.for these purposes of relatively simple,eficientand yet Vruggedand durable construction.v f indicatingY meanscapable -ofp'erforming these functions may comprise aplurality ofrelatively movable indicators; eachj bearing numerals, letters 'or otherindicia and preferablyarranged to expose simultaneouslycertaincharacters of each, indicator.A this in Fig-5;'. y l

`i Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially along way a relativelylargenumber of permutations or combinations of the characters 0nVtheidifferent indicators may be effected from the characters on oneindicator at least in different colorflelds so that an operator may knowthe intended route at a glance without pausing to read the symbolsexposed.

. vIn the drawings :V

Fig. l is a side elevation of a carrier of "fiattened or oval form;

Figs.- 2 and 8 are elevational views showforming .part of the endconstruction of the carrier shown in Fig. l;

F1g.5 Ais a side elevation partly in section Figo isa plan view of themember shown theline7-.V-7 `of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a connecting l member;

lig. 9 isa section taken substantially along 4theline 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an endfelevation of the member shown in Fig. 8; y Y

Figs. 1l and 12 are top plan views of flexible bands. Y Y .Onepreferredembodiment of the inven- :tionis illustratedin thedrawings as applied toa carrier 10 having a flattened or oval shaped body comprising a shell11 and a per- `manent closure member 17 at one end of the .,shell. l Thecarrier also has a cover 12 at the Vother end of the shell and connectedto the shell bythe hinge 1 3. A flexible strap 14; attached to theopposite side of the shell car- .ries one of the cooperating parts ofthe snap `fastener 16 by which the cover may be se- .cured `in closedposition.

In accordance with the present invention, the permanent closure member17 is of a rigid cup-like form (Fig. 4) preferably befingmade of asuitable metal such as alumi- `num and comprises side walls 18 (similarin fil contour to that of the carrier shell) connected integrally to anend wall 19 which permanently closes this end of the carrier. Anoutwardly offset attaching flange 21 is integrally connected to the sidewalls and adapted to be attached, as by means of rivets 22, (Fig. 1) tothe exterior ofthe carrier. Within this flange an interior shoulder 23is`disposed to abut against the end of the shell liexible bands carryingindicia.

The shield 27 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises an endless band havingintermediate the longitudinal edges thereof, an inner circumferentiallyextending rib 28 which is adapted to fit upon the exterior surface ofthe side wall i8 of the closure member 17, and it is preferably affixedthereto by means of machine screws 29 which may be countersunk so as tobe flush with the exterior surface of the shield as shown. Thenassembled in this manner the inner circumferential rib 28, together withthe longitudinally extending portions of the band 27 and the exteriorsurface of the closure member define Vparallel circumferentiallyextending guideways.

The shield 27 shown'in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 is provided with longitudinallyaligned openings or windows 31 which are arranged `m circumferentiallyspaced pairs, preferably at diametrically opposite sides of the carrierfor simultaneously sides of the carrier.

The flexible indicators or index carriers exposing indicia on both B2,38 shown in Figs. 11 and 12 areV located in the guideways formed on theunderside of y the shield 27 at opposite sides of rib 28. In

order that these indicators may function to expose the same symbol ornumber through the windows 81 on opposite sides of the carrier, eachindicator is adapted to extend approximately half way around thc carrierand is connected to another indicator of similar construction to form anendless index-carrying band as will be apparent from Fig. 7. F orconnecting the indicators, connecting members 34 such as shown in Figs.8, 9 and 10 may be employed. The member 34 comprises an arcuate portion36 havinor approximately the same width as the indicators to Abeconnected, and from this arcuate'portion an actuatii'ig arm 37extends'outwardly and is bent longitudinally to overhang the arcuateportion. The longitudinally extending portion of this arm may also bebent transversely Asomewhat in a V-shape to facilitate moving the band.In assembling the endless band two of the indicators 32 or 33 areconnected as by means of rivets to the arcuate portions 36 of two of theconnecting members 34 as will be apparent from Figs. 7 to 10. Theindicators are preferably of ribbon-like shape and flexible material(for example celluloid) having inherent resiliency suiiicient to tend tohold the indicators approximately flat so that Whenassembled around thecasting in the guideways, they will tend to iiex outwardly and thusbring their surfaces adjacent to the windows 31 provided for exposingindicia.

The VVindicia may comprise any approved series O f characters,preferably numerals 'which may run successively from O to 13 and alsoinclude additional designations such as File and Mail as shown in Fig.11. The

indicator 33 in Fig. 12 may, if desired, be provided only with numeralsfrom one to zeroV as shown. For expediting handling carriers equippedwith such indicating dev ices the numeralsshown on one of theindicators, ypreferably those on the indicator 32 in Fig. 11, aredisposed in fields of different color as indicated by way of example inthis figure. This enablesan operator at a relay or other station alongthe route which the carrier is to follow, to know the destination at aglance from the color exposed by this field without pausing to read thesymbol. As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 7, the overhanging arm 37 ofeach connecting member overlies the endless closure member or shield 27and the outwardly extending portion of this arm is adapted to cooperatewith the vlongitudinal edges of'this shieldfor assisting in guiding theflexible bands about the carrieigand'provides a handle or actuator Ibymeans of which the band may be moved to expose the desired indicia. Theinherent resiliency of these indicators, which may be of Celluloid orother suitable material, and

`also the manner of connecting the arcuate member tends to flex theindicator to bring the indicia thereon closer to the exposure windows.

lvtivelythereto and a shield fixed upon said ,'bo'dy and surroundingsaid band.

2. A carrier of the class described comprising a body of non-circulartransverse section,

movable index carrier engaging the peripheral surface of the body and ashield fixed upon said body and surrounding said carrier.

43. A carrier ofthe class described comprisfing a'body, anindex-carrying band embracing the body, said band including a flexibleribbon-like member, and means for connecting the opposite ends of saidflexible member and agjshield fixed upon said body and surroundingsaidband.

`i. A-earrierfedie'classdescfibedgeemprise ing a body," an indexcarryingband embracing Y the body and movablev relatively'7V`v thereto', saidband including la-*p-lurality' offaligned iiexible members eachprovidedavith index characteristics', Vvand mean'sfeonnecting adjacentends of said gmembers and v"a r"shield fixed upon lsaid body"andfsurrounding said 5. Avcarri'er of theclassfdescribed compris ing abody, an Aendless Aband embracingsaid body, the bandV being "movable"around the carrier body, said band carrying tvv'o like sets of indexcharacteristics so lar rangedthat like characteristics of Vthe tvvosetsarealvvays disjposed at diametrically opposite points of the carrierbody and a shield fixed 'upon'said body surrounding said band'and havingdiametrically opposite Windows therein', through Vwhich said likecharacteristi'csare exposed. 6. A carrierof the classdescribed liavingabody oi noncircu'lar section, movable index means arranged at oppositesides of the body, means for enclosing said indexV means and havingWindovvs'at opposite sides ofthe body and means for simultaneouslyadjusting the index means at opposite sides ofthe Vcarrier relative tothe `Windows njsaid enclosing means.

7. The combination With a carrier 'ofthe class described, of apluralityof movable indiciacarriers, means forencl'o'sing indicia of theindicia carriers, and means for' simultaneously moving said carriers andexposing indicia of'each carrier. t

S. The combin-ationvvith acarrierof the class described, of a pluralityof movable 4indica-bearingmembers, means `for enclosing theindicia-bearing'members, said means including Windows for exposingindicia of said indicia-bearing members,V andl means for vshifting saidindiciabearingV members relatively to said 'enclosing` meansgrforexposing different indicia. Y .l H 1 9. The combination with a`carrier'oi"the class described, of a pluralityof movableindicia-bearing members, means' for .enclosing the indicia-bearingmembersysaid means including Windows Jlior exposing indicia ofisaidindicia-bearing members, and means for shifting said indicia-bearingmembersfrelatively to :said enclosing Vmeans. for exposing different.indici-a "at the Windows, `the characters comprising indiciaI of atleast one of the indicia-:bearing members being disposed inieldsoidiierent colors. i i l0. The combinationfvvith'a carrier of theVclass described,* ofA ai plurality of indiciabearing members, means forenclosing 'the indicia-bearing members, saidA means including Windowsdisposed Yside by side for simultaneously exposing indicia of saidindiciab'earing members, said indicia-bearing members beingrelatively"movable v1lor exposing different indicia. i

Yclicia from said members.

13.* The combinati-on with a carrier of the .16.Tiie combination with acarrier n; The @minimali with eine of ne class described, ofV aplurality of 4movable ndicia-bearing membersf means for :enclosing theindicia-bearing membersysaid means including Windowsforexposingfindicila of `said indicia-bearing members, `and means ffor'shifting `said indiciabearing members relaindicia of saidindicia-bearingmembers be- 'ing' so varranged and disposed thatlwh'enexposed through saidwindoiws they/may be read simultaneously `from thesame position at all times. f i Y 12. The combination with' acarrier ofthe cla'ssdescribed', of a plurality 0i'l members bearing indicia, meansV:fior enclosing-fthe members, saidmeans including `windows `forexposing indicia o'n the members, the indicia.- bearng members beingmovable-in 'a lurality of directions past the windows to acilitateexposing combinedA symbols-comprising inclass described, of movableindicia-bearing members at v different vsides of the carrier, means forenclosing 4the indciabearing members, and means for exposing likeindicia at different sides of the carrier. n 14. :Thecombination withcarrierof class described,"of a` plurality of Ir'iernbers bearingindicia and movable at different sides of 'the carrier, and means forenclosing the members bearing indicia, said enclosing means havmgwmdowsdisposed .atdiferent sides of 'the carrier fory simultaneousiy'exposmgindicia at saidgdiiierent sides.

15. The combination with vaca'rier ofthe classV described, ofplurality.A of `V'endless bands independently movable about the. pe-

riphery of `the carrier, `means for'jencl'osing the bands, saidenclosing means having windows 'arranged in `pairs` (indifferent sides'of the carrier, the indicia of each-bandcom `pris'ing two series ofcharacters arranged in Vthe same order ands aced'to expose the sameVcharacters through e Windows on the dif- Yferent lsides of the carrier.

of the class described, of ilexiblaf i indicia bearing bands movable insubstantially parallel paths about thecarrier, and meansencompassing thebands and vhaving openings arranged in circumferentially spaced pairsfor simultaneously exposing indie-ia -onv dierent sides of the carrien.f p l 17. `The combination with a 'carrier of the class described, ofinner .and outer Inembers mounted upon Vthe carrierand spaced to dei".fine guideways, and flexible .indicia bearing bands operableindependently in the respective guideways, said outer member havingopenings `tflieretbrough arranged in'v circuml-ferentially spacedf pairs.for 'simultaneously the l vfino exposing indiciajof` the' bands ondifferent sides. of the carrier. LT v 18. The combination with a carrierof the class described, of an endless shield encompassing the carrierand having an inner circumferentially extending rib fitting the carrier,said rib being disposed intermediate the longitudinal edges of theshield, said rib being affixed to the carrier and defining with thecarrier and the marginal portions ofthe shield longitudinally spacedcircumferentially extending guideways, and flexible indicia-bearingbands independently.y movable in the guideways, the endless shieldhaving openings arranged in circumferentially spaced pairs forsimultaneously exposing indicia on different sides of the carrier.

19. A carrier of the class described comprising a shell, a closuremember for one. end thereof, said closure member comprising a side Wallhaving a contour similar to that of the shell and an end Wall forclosing the end of the shell, said side Wall having an outwardly offsetflange for attachment to the exterior of the shell, and a shoulderWithin the flange adapted to abut the end of the shell.

20. A carrier of the class described comprising a shell, a closuremember for one l end thereof, said closure member comprising a side Wallhaving a contour similar to that of the shell and an end Wall forclosing the end of the shell, said side Wall having an outwardly offsetflange for lattachment to the exterior of the shell, and a shoulderWithin the flange adapted to abut the end of the shell and movableindicia bearing members engaging said side Wall. Y j,

2l. A carrier of the class described oomprising a shell, a closuremember for one end thereof, said closure member comprising a side Wallhaving a contour similar to that of the shell and an end Wall forclosing the end of the shell, said side Wall having an outwardly offsetflange for attachment to the exterior of the shell, and a shoulderWithin the flange adapted to abut the end of the shell and movableindicia bearing members engaging said endless side Wall, and a shieldaffixed to said side Wall for enclosing the indicia bearing members,said shield having openings therethrough for exposing selected indicia.j

22.'The combination With a carrier ofthe class described, ofcircumferentially extending inner and outer Walls spaced to definecircumferentially extending guideways, and flexible indicia bearingbands'movable in the guideways, the outer Wall having longitudinallyaligned openings for simultaneously exposing indicia on the flexiblebands.

23. The combination With a'carrierof the class described, ofcircumferentially extending inner and outer Walls spaced to definecircumferentially extending guideways, and flexible indicia bearingbands movable in the ,guideways the outer Wall having longitudinallyallgned openings for simultaneously exposing indicia on the flexiblebands, and means tendingto hold the flexible bands in adjustedpositions.

24. The combination With a carrier of the class described, ofcircumferentially extending inner and outer Walls spaced to definecircumferentially extending guideways, and flexible indicia bearingbands movable in the guideways, the outer Wall having longitudinallyaligned openings for simultaneously exposing indicia,` on the flexiblebands, and means tending to flex the flexible bands to hold the latterclose to the openings so that indicia thereon may be leasily read. 25.The Combination With a carrier of the class described, ofcircumferentially extending inner and outer Walls spaced to definecircumferentially' extending guideways, and flexible indicia bearingbands movable in the guidevvays, the outer Wall having longitudinaledges fand longitudinally aligned openings for simultaneously exposingindicia on the flexible bands, and means cooperating with thelongitudinal edges of the outer wall for assisting in guiding theflexible bands.

26. The combination with a carrier of the class described of a shieldfixed upon and surrounding the carrier body and spaced therefrom toprovide a circumferentially extending guideway, a flexible indiciacarrying band insaid guideway and means for moving said band in saidguideway, said shield having a v'vinolonT therein at which a selectedindicia may be exposed by the moving of said band. 1 27. The combinationwith a carrier of the class 4described having an oval body, of a shieldvfixed upon and surrounding the body and'rspaced therefromto 'provide acircumferent-ially extending guidevvay, and a flexible band in saidguideway consisting of two index carrying indicators and connectingmeans for joining said indicators end to end, said shield having aWindow in each of the flat sides of the carrier and said connectingmeans projecting from said shield and either being engageable to shiftthe band in the guideWay and expose a selected indicia on each indicatorsimultaneously at the windows of the shield. Y

28. The combination with a carrier of the class described ofcircumferentially extending inner and outer Walls spaced to define acircumferentially extending guideway, and a flexible indicia bearingband consisting of at least two indicators and connecting members bywhich the ends of the indicators are joined, said outer Wall havinglalongitudinal edge and Windows associated With each in dicator, `and saidconnecting members projecting beyond the edge of the outer wall and anyone being engageable to shift the band in the guideway to expose aselected indicia on each indicator simultaneously at the windows of theouter wall.

29. The combination with a carrier of the class described ofcircumferentially extending inner and outer Walls spaced to dene. acircumferentially extending uide- Way, and a ieXible indicia bearing banconsisting of at least two indicators and connecting members by whichthe ends of the indicators are joined, said outer Wall having alongitudinal edge and Windows associated with each indicator, and saidconnectingl members projecting around the edge of the outer Wall overthe outer surface thereof, and any one being engageable to shift theband in the guideway to expose selected in-V dicia on each indicatorsimultaneously at the Windows of the outer Wall.

Signed by me at Syracuse, N. Y., this 18th day of February, 1930.

FRANK W. MACMARTIN.

